Piston-position indicator



Oct. 20, 1925. 1,558,294

A. l. SANDBO I PISTON POSITION INDICATOR Filed July 16. 1924 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 www o, l 'f'-/ 01 l o! o GO l O l (N l0 l ,.3 (u I f N 3 @I 04 9 gwntov oef. 20,1925. .Y 1,558,294

A. l. sANoao PSTON POS ITION INDICATGR 1,558,294 A. I. SVANDBQ PISTON F'OSITION INDICATOR Filed July 16. 1924 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 20, 1925- Y 0.xl "/Q M 5. w L In. A :NN

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Siloam lti Patented @et Ed, 1925,

narran stares PATENT OFFICE;

ANTON I. SANDRO, OE' H0011; ISLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T0 J. HAYS Bnrrron, or

ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS.

PIS'IN-POSITION INDICATOR.

To all fio/lont t may concern.'

Be it lniownthat l, itiN'roN l. Sunni-xo, a citizen oi" the United States, residing at Rock Island, in the county ot Rock island and State ot illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Piston- Position Indicators, ot which the following is a specification, reterence being had there in to the accompanying drawing.

'lhe present invent-ion has :tor its primary object the provision of a device tor indicating, in a practical and eliicientmanner, the position ot a piston ot' an internal coinbastion engine, to tacilitate the adjustment i or timing ot the valves.

A"rnother object ot the invention is the provision ot such a device which will indicate the inaiiinuni distance that the piston inoves above or beyond the head surtace ot' the cylinder or cylinder block, and which will also indicate, within a certain range, Athe distance that the piston is troni its extreme liinit oi' inoveinent at the upper or outer position.

A turther object is to provide such a device which can be conveniently secured on the cylinder block or casting for cooperation with the piston, and which has novel cooperating ineinbers tor indicating the positions ot the piston.

It is also an object ot' the invention to provide such a device which is simple and inexpensive in construction, and which can Ibe used on diti'erent engines.

l/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement oit parts, as hereinafter described and claiined, it being understood that changes can be niade within the scope ot' what is clainied, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the acconipanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a side elevation et the indicator as in use, with the piston at its extreme liniit of inoveinent in the outward or upward stroke, the cylinder block or casting being shovzf'n in section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3, with the valve and piston shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, with portions ot the cylinder block and piston broken away, showing the piston inoved downi-vardly slightly.

Serial No. 726,369.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device, portions being shown in section.

`Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the triction spring.

-Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified construction.

Fig. 6 is a plan view ot' the inodilied con'- struction.

Fig. T lied torni ot indicator as used in a valve-in head engine.

JFig. 8 is a plan view ot the device shown in Fig. 7, portions being shown in section.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a base 11 to seat on the upper or head surtace 12 ot' the cylinder block or casting 13, and said base is secured on the cylinder block to hold the device in lined position. The base 11 has an elongated slot 14 to register with one ot the bolt holes 15 in the cylinder block, and a clamping screw 16 is adapted to pass down through the slot 14 to screw into the registering bolt hole 15 and has a collar or shoulder 17 to bear on the base 11 tor clamping said base on the cylinder block. rlhe bolt holes 15 are lett open when the bolts are removed for removing the cylinder head, as is well understood, and the slot 14 not only permits the base 11 to be turned to diierent angular positions, but also enables the base to be slid longitudinally, so that the indicator can be properly positioned over the piston. In an engine where stud bolts are secured to the cylinder block, the screw 16 is removed, and the base 11 is placed over the corresponding stud bolt, and the nut is threaded on the bolt to clamp the base 11 down on the cylinder block.

The base 11 has an upstanding flange 18 parallel with and located at one side ot the slot 14, which is extended at one end to torin an arin 19 which extends over the piston 20, and said arm has a lug 21 at its eX- treinity providing a pointer or index.

An arni 22 bears againstone side of the arin 19, and a third arin 23 bears against the arni 22, with the arnu 22 between the arins 19 and 23. The arms 22 and 23 are pivotally connected with the base for upward and downward swinging .movement Thus, a pivot screw 24 is threaded into the flange 18 at the corresponding end of the arm 19, and the arno 22 is mounted tor turning movement on the shank of said is a side elevation ot' another inodi-v the graduations 3stthe altitude screw. lheiarinQtZ has asboss 25 on which the arm 23"is'mounted for turning movement. A lock nut 2G is threaded on the screw 2411 and bears against the opposite side ofthe tiange 18 for maintaining the adjustment of the screw, and a boived friction spring 2T is disposed between the boss Q5 andthehead 28 of the screw, whereby when the screw is tightened, the pressure ci" the spring against the boss 25 will hold the arm 92- trictionally against the iange 18 and arm 19, Whereas the arm 23 is swingableloosely on the boss 25. The arms 22 ant Q3 have lugs 29 projecting from their pivoted ends-and disposed between stop pins SO secured to the flange 18, whereby to limit the swinging movement ot said arms 2Q and 23, Athereby keeping the arms in associated relationand pre-venting them -Yfrom swinging apart too far.

rlhe arms 22 and have the depending lingers ,31 and 32 to bear on the piston 20, whereby thearms 22 and 23 can be raised by thepiston when it is at the upper or out- Ward limit ot its n'iovement.

rlhe threearn'is have cooperating indicatin g means. Thus,`the arm 22 has a head ivitha-scale otI ,graduations 34- on the tace thereof with which the pointer 21 is -.cooperable, and the free end o'i the arm 28 also has apointer or. index 35 cooperable With the graduations. rlhe graduations indicate, in 'fractions of an inch or other unit, the position ot the piston with reference to the surface 12 ot'the cylinder block.

In using the indicator, the base 11 is secured on the cylinder block adjacent to the .piston with which the device is to be used,

with the piston lowered or retracted. The arms 22 and 23 are swung downwardly, and then, when the piston is raised orprojected above .the siirtacey 12, it contacts With the iingers 31 and 32 and swings the armsQQ and 23 a 'ay trom the cylinder bloei-1, the arm v1S) being stationary. Thepis'ton .is moved yto its limit with thecorresponding crank of the engine crank shaft (not shown) turned on center or at its extreme upper position. The arms 22am 2? are therefore moved as tar as possible trom the cylinder block, depending on the amount that the piston is pro jected trom the cylinder block, which varies with different engines. rThe head moved upwardlyrelatively to the pointer Q1, and ythe pointer 21 will therefore indicate on the graduations 341, the dist nce that the piston proiects beyond the surtace Furthermore, the friction spring will hold the arm trictionally against kthe ari'n 19, so that the 21111122 Will remain in raised position when the piston is lowered, so tl at the pointer 2i will continue to indicate on or height '12 in the However,l

of the piston above the surface uppermost posgtion of the piston.

whenthe piston is lowered, the arm 23fbeinur loose, will more downwardly with the piston and the opinter 35 ot said arm Will indicate on the gr: duations 311-, as seen in Fig. 2, the distance that the piston is moved downwardly below its extreme upper position as seen in 1.

The indicator can theretore be conveniently used tor adjusting and timing the openingl the va'ves of the corresponding cylinder, it being n/'cll'known that the valves are timed to open at a certain position ot' the piston at near its uppermost position. Tie adjustin s ditier with dii'ferent engines, and, alitei the arm 22 has been raised by the piston to the extreme limit., the pointer 35 will indicate on the scale ot graduations 3 the distance that the piston has moved doivn 'from its extreme lripper position. The valves should open ivhen the pointer 3:1 at predeteri'iined positions on the scaie ot' graduations, ai it is thus possible to make adjustments so as to time the valves properly, as Wilt be understood by those skilled in the art. The device thus automatically indicates the position ot the piston between its highest point and the position ot the piston with its upper surface i'iush `with the surface 12.

Y.Vhen applti'ing the base 11 to the surface 12 ot the cylinder block, care should be taken that the base eats snugly on said surtace, and said surface should be cleaned ofi' it necessary.

In using the indicator on the engine ot a n ord automobile, tor example, with the base 11 secured to the cylinder block, the engine crank shaft is turned slowly and stopped When the piston has reached its highest point (known as on center position) and the. arm 22 is raised so that the pointer 21 indicates on the Y'raduations 34 the highest altitude ot the piston. fhen the piston reaches this position the exhaust valve should be closed. Non', the crank shat't is again turned until the Ypiston has moved down one-sixteenth ot an inch, whic-h1is'indic-ated by the gotver 35 on the graduations At this position oi the piston the intake valve should start to open. .lit the valves do not open at the proper positions ot the pir-V then adjustments in the valve gear are made to properly time the valves with reference to the movement oic the pisihe same t can he made tor the 's of? cael'i ej n by positioi'liug the e over the di..erent pistons.

1i 5 and .6 show a modified construction in 'which the three niain parts may `be frs, Whereas the arms Q2 and 23 and base i1 and arm 19 may he termed 'from sheet metal. Thus the hase 11K and arm 2 'ing of suit metah the Q i j set upwardly mnilar tothe arm 19, and the hase 11 being provided toit ' with a slot la to receive thescrew 16 for securing the base on the cylinder blocl, the screw having the collars 1T tor holding 1t in position on the base ll. The arm i9 has a vertical guide portion 24 with an openingl therein in wl'iich a vertical tube 22 is slidable, and arod 23 is slidable vertically in said tube, said rod having a head or enlargement 32 at its lower end to seat on the pis ton and to contact with the lower end o t the tube 22. The guide portion 24 has a recess 40 in its upper end formed at one end with a pointer 2l to register with graduations 3a on the tube 22. The tube has a similar recess 4l in its upper end formed with a pointer 3:7 at one end to register with graduations 34 on the rod 23', The tube 22 is held rictionally in aised position by means of a coiled spri 2? disposed within an opening in the portion 2st between a friction member l2 and a plug a3 screw-threaded into said portion 24s. The triction member ft2 bears against the lat side 44 ot the tube 23 to prevent said tube from turning and to also hold the tube in raised position` while the rod 23 is slidable loosely in the tube. The rod 23 carries a pin 30 working in a slot Ll5 inthe tube 22 to prevent the rod 23 from turning relatively ito thel tube 22 and to also prevent the tube from being accidentally lost. rl`hus, the pin con* tacting with the upper end of the portion 24 will limit the downi-vard movement ot' the rod 23, and the downward movement of the tube 22 is limited by the head 32. The head 32 valso limits the upward movement o1 the rod 23 in the portion 24', and the pin 30 limits the upward movement of the tube 22 relativelv to the rod 23', to hold the parts assembled.

rhe modified form of device is used in substantially the same way as the lirst form. Thus, when the base il has been secured on the cylinder block, and the piston is raised, lthe piston contacts with the head 32 and raises the rod 23 thereby raising the tube 22 with said rod. The pointer 2l will thereiore indicate on the graduations the highest position ot the piston, and the tube 22 is held in its raised position by the spring 2T and friction member 42, although the tube can be readily slid downwardly manually. As the piston is moved downwardly, the rod 23 moves downwardly with the piston, said rod being loose within the tube 22', and the pointer 35 will therefore indicate on the graduations 34e the distance thatl the top of the piston is below its highest point.

Figs. 7 and S depict still another variation in the construction of the device, for use especially with valve-in-head engines, the movable members being mounted in much the same manner as in the device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The base or support comprises a plug 11 which is screw-threiulcd into the spark plug hole l5 of the cylinder 13 from which. the spark plug has been removed. The plug 1l has an outstanding flange or portion 18 'from which the arm 19 projects, said arm having the lugor pointer 21 at its extremity. The lever 22 is mounted `tor oscillation on the screw 2/ which is screw-threaded through the portion 18, and the lever 22 has the boss 25 on which the lever 23 is mounted :for turning motion. A lock nut 26 is threaded on the screw 24, and a spring 2? is disposed between the boss 25 and the head 23 of the screw, the same as in the iirst torni ot device. The levers 22 and 23 have arms to project into the cylinder, and said inner arms of the levers have the respective dcpending lingers 3l and 32 to bear on the piston 20. rlhe outer arm oit the lever 22 has the head 32 with the scale eli graduations 34 thereon, and the tree end ot' the 'outer arm ot the lever 23 has the pointer or index 35".

rIhe device shown in Figs. I and 8 is used in substantially the same n'ianner as the device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, excepting that the plug 11 is engaged in the spark plug hole ot' the cylinder to position the device with reference to the piston, without removing` the cylinder head with which the valves are assembled. However, the mem` bers 22 and 23 are levers of the lirst order, while the members 22 and 23 are levers of the third order. Also, levers 22 and 23 move in directions opposite to the movement of the arms or levers 22 and 23, the head 33 being raised while the head 32 is moved downwardly The inner arm ot the lever 23 must also be of greater weight than the outerA arm ot' said lever, so that the lever 23 will move with the piston 20".

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A piston position indicator comprising three members assembled with one another, one member having means for mounting it on a cylinder block, a second member being movable relatively to the first named member in one direction only with the piston, and the third member being movable relatively to the second member in both directions with the piston, the iirst-named and second members having cooperablepointer and graduations for indicating the position of the second member relatively to the irstnamed member, and the second and third members having cooperable pointer and graduations for indicating the position of the third member relatively to the second member.

2. A piston position indicator comprising three members assembled with one another, one member having means for mounting it on a cylinder block, a second member ybeing movable relatively to .the lirst named mein-- ber and vfriotionallyheld in its dili'ferent posit-ions, and thethird member being movable loosely relatively to 'the second member. both the second and third membersbeing adapted to be moved in one direction by the piston and the third member being nioifible in the other direction :also with the lpiston. the first named :and Segond members having eooperable pointer and gredimtions for indicating the position -o' the second member relatively to the first named member.y and the second and third meml s having cooperable pointer and mdAA eating the position of the third member relatively to thel seeond member.

3. A piston position indicator compris;r j three members being aisseml ed Withone zinother, one member having ineens `l'or mounting it one cylinder bloeit. a second member being movable relativelyv to the lirst named member, friction means for holding the seeond member in dii'iierent positions. sind the third n'ieinbei being movable loosely; l tively to theA second member, both the second :md third members .being idiipted yto be moved in one direction bjifthe piston, and the third member' beingl movablein theopposite direction also with the piston, said l renimembers having cooperating ,pointers 'und graduations. whereby 1the.r position oi ,the seeond member ,relatively to .the hrst named n'iember ywill indicate the extreme movement oi the piston and the relative position ol the seeond and third members will indicate the distance of the. piston vfrom said extreme position.

il. A piston positionindicator comprising three members assembled with one zinother, one member having a baise to be mounted on :i cylinder bloel `and having am oii'set erm to extend .across the piston, :i second memberfbeing movable relatively to seid arm and t'rietionsllyfheld in diffieren; postions relatively I,to `said erm. and Ethe third member being movable loosely kreletively tothe second named member, both of said second and third members being `zirreiiged to be noved by the piston in one direction and the third member .being movable in the opposite direction also Withzthe piston, seid erm andk second end third members having oooperable pointers and graduetions `for' indicating the position of lthe piston.

Intestimony WhereoI hereunto alii); my

signature.

ANTON I. SANDBO. 

